Shank-protector



G. G. MEAD.

SHANK PROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED JULY 29. 1920.

1,367,884.. Patented Feb. 8,1921.

IA'IVENTOR.

A TT ORNE Y.

GEORGE G. MEAD, OF PARKERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA.

SHANK-PBOTECTOB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

Application filed Jul; 29, 1920. Serial No. 399,783.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE G. MEAD, a citizen of the United States of .America, and resident of Parkersburg, in the county of Wood and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shank-Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shoes and particularly to shank supports, the said invention having for its object the provision of novel means whereby relatively light material ma prove effective as a brace or support of the character indicated.

The inventor has found in practice that by usin hot rolled steel preferably 24 gage and wit out other reinforcing means than a rib, it will relieve'the wearer of such a device of aching arches so that by the use of this device, a very inexpensive supporting member may be produced.

A further object of this invention is to produce a brace of the character indicated which can be readily applied to or removed from shoes so that an arch support ma be used for a long time by transferring it rom one shoe to another.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a bracing member of the character indicated having shoe engaging members which are adjustable so that the device can be applied to shoes with soles of different widths.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and in -the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views and in which Figure 1 illustrates a view in perspective of a shoe, the device embodying the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the said device, and

Fig. 3 illustrates a plan view of a fragment of the device showing modified means for attaching one end thereof.

In these drawings, 5 denotes a body which is, as stated, preferably made of rolled steel relatively thin, the same having spurs 6 formed at its rear end, the said spurs being adapted to be embedded in the front of the heel of a shoe, and the said body furthermore having a lug or extension 7 terminating in an ear 8 which embraces the edge of the sole of the shoe under the instep. The said body 5 has a series of apertures such as 9 near the forward end which apertures are intended to receive a securing device such as a screw 10 by which the plate 11 having jaws 12 and 13 may be adjustably secured to the body so that the distance of the jaws 12 and 13 from the ear 8 may be changed to span shoe soles of different widths. The body 5 is also preferably provided with a longitudinally extending rib 14: which strengthens the structure and bears against the under surface of the sole of the shoe to act as a brace or support, the said rib pressing the sole of the shoe upwardly against the arch to support said arch.

The device forming the subject of this invention is not expensive and therefore can be used by the laboring class of people who need relief, and of course no special construction is required in the shoe as the de-8 0 vice is adjustable and applicable to any of the shoes now in common use.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modified construction which cheapens the device very materially in that in addition to the spurs which anchor it at one end of the body, the said body has a series of apertures 15 in the end remote from the spurs which may recelve anchoring devices such as screws, and when this form is employed, the jaws may be omitted. Furthermore, when this form is employed, one size will be useful in connection with shoes of different sizes for the reason that the device is secured to the under surface of the sole without respect to the width of the said sole.

I claim:

In a shank protector, a body of relatively thin resilient metal having a rib extending longitudinally thereof, the said body having a row of apertures transversely arranged on the front end of the plate near one side thereof, the said plate having spurs at its through one of the apertures of the plate rear end whereby the said plate is anchored for engaging one of the jaws and holding to theheel of a shoe, an integral jaw at the it in assembled relation to the plate, the 10 side of the plate at its front end, a plate havshorter jaw having means for embracing the 7 ing laterally extending jaws at its ends, edge of the plate and the longer jaw being one of said jaws projecting to a greater exadapted to engage the sole of a shoe.

tent than the other, means extending GEORGE G. MEAD. 

